Virtual Machine is a great way to test new operating systems, check the authenticity of unknown applications and also revisit older Windows OSes like XP or 7 for fun. Not to mention, now you can also use Linux on Windows 10 virtual machine and that is simply great. However, the sad part is that somehow it has remained a utility meant only for developers. Nevertheless, in this article, we bring you a detailed tutorial on how to create a virtual machine on Windows 10 along with some extra tips. Along with that, we have also provided solutions to common issues while creating a virtual machine. Now having said that, let’s go ahead and learn about the steps.
Before we begin, there are three key points you must know. In this article, we are not using a third-party program, but utilizing the powerful virtualization application called Hyper-V which comes pre-installed on Windows 10. Being a native application, Hyper-V works much better than any other program including VMWare and VirtualBox.
First of all, restart your computer and boot into BIOS. Usually, the boot key is F10 or F9, but if you are not sure, you can look for it on the internet depending on your PC manufacturer.
Mostly, in System Configuration or Advanced tab, you would find the option for “Virtualization”. All you have to do is enable it and save the changes by pressing the F10 key. After that, restart your computer normally and Virtualization will be enabled.
Press the Windows key once and type “Hyper-V” in the Start Menu and you would find the application on top. Open it.
Now, you can choose the operating system for which you want to create a virtual machine on Windows 10. The great part is that Hyper-V also supports Linux (Ubuntu) out of the box. Apart from that, you can also choose a local Windows 10 ISO image if you have already downloaded it like me.
While creating virtual machine on your Windows 10 device, you might encounter some errors. Here are some of the most common errors you may encounter and their solutions.
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Sometimes, due to legacy BIOS, Hyper-V is unable to initialize the virtual machine. In that case, you can create the virtual machine manually using legacy standards (Generation 1). Also, if you have an older PC then this method is best way to create virtual machine on Windows 10. Here is how to go about it.
Click on “New” and select “Virtual Machine” from the right panel.
Now, your virtual machine is successfully created. Double-click on it and you will be taken to the installation of Windows 10 in a virtual machine instantly.
